Marc Cucurella was seen performing a strange ritual before Spain’s FIFA World Cup 2026 final against Argentina, and it has been revealed that this was part of a 16-year-old belief given by one of Spain’s former World Cup winners.Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time at New York’s New Jersey Stadium to lift the men’s World Cup for the second time in their history, with substitute Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal in the 106th minute.Despite all the attention after Spain’s victory and Argentina’s late collapse, footage taken just before kick-off showed Cucurella walking quietly towards the touchline, removing an object from his sock and burying it under a branch.
‘mystery’ lucky money tradition
Initially, no one knew what the Spanish left-back was hiding in the grass.The mystery was finally solved by former Spanish defender Joan Capdevila, who revealed that the object was money and asked Cucurella himself to continue believing in magic since Spain won the World Cup in 2010.Capdevila, who started at left back when Spain defeated the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup final in Johannesburg, explained that he buried money on the pitch before the game and encouraged Cucurella to repeat the ritual before Argentina.Writing on X, Capdevila said: “And now I’ll tell you a secret… In 2010, I buried money in the grass before starting a game… I’ve told it many times.“I asked @cucurella3 to do the same thing yesterday…“Marc, I love you so much. YOU ARE THE WORST OF THE WORLD!”He also shared a video that shows Cucurella discreetly checking that no one is watching before placing the money on a cloth and covering it with grass before the start of the season.
Spain’s lucky streak ends with another World Cup
Whether it was coincidence or superstition, the ritual began to work again.Spain dominated much of the final against defending champions Argentina before securing victory in extra time.Ferran Torres struck in the 106th minute after being set up by Nico Williams, to give Luis de la Fuente’s side an emphatic 1-0 victory and secure Spain’s second World Cup, exactly 16 years later.Cucurella has also been a key player in the tournament, starting another international campaign after helping Spain win the European Championship two years ago.Argentina’s hopes of forcing penalties were already in jeopardy when Enzo Fernández was sent off in stoppage time after receiving a second yellow card for a reckless tackle on Pau CubarsÃ. Tempers later boiled over to the final whistle, with Leandro Paredes also sent off after an altercation involving several Spanish players.
His Capdevila World Cup tour was almost over before it started
This episode was particularly important because Capdevila himself almost missed the final.Earlier in the week, the 2010 World Cup winner revealed that his application for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) to enter the United States was rejected, due to a match he played in Iran.Capdevila appealed to US President Donald Trump on social media, writing: “I NEED HELP @realDonaldTrump!”“They just told me that I can’t go to the final with my children because my ESTA has been rejected.“Can anyone help me with this? You have no idea how happy I am to be there with all my friends from 2010 and this team to cheer them on.“I can’t believe they’re not letting me into the USA… and that I’m going to miss a moment like this with my kids who love soccer so much.”According to ESPN, US Customs and Border Protection later confirmed to the Associated Press that it had received a request regarding Capdevila’s case and allowed him to enter the country.The former Villarreal defender arrived in New Jersey at the last minute and saw Spain lift the World Cup in the standings.After the victory, he celebrated Spain’s victory and his triumphant journey by writing: “HOW IT HAS NOT BEEN IMPORTANT… I WANTED TO BE HERE WITH MY FAMILY TO CELEBRATE THIS TIME, AND JUSTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN. Thank you to everyone who pushed to make this possible, thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”For Capdevila, the money buried under the grass had already brought Spain a chance once in 2010. Sixteen years later, after Cucurella repeated the same silent ritual before the start, he ended up with another World Cup trophy back in Spain.
